Wallace a



(No Model.)

W. LBARTLETT. FIRE EXTINGUISHING PRO'JBUTILE N0.336,981. Patented Mar.2, 1886;

N. PETERS. Pbolo-Lflhugmphnr. Washington. D. C

NITED STATES TENT rrrcn.

FlRE-EXTINGUISHING PROJECTILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,981, dated March 2,1836.

Application filed September 7, 1885. Serial No. 176,342. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLACE A. BARTLETT, residing at Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fire-Extinguishing Projectiles, of which the following is aspecification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to projectiles of the character speciallyintended for extinguishing fires.

The invention consists in the construction of the main part of thecasing of flexible material; also in the means for retaining the casingin extended position; also in means for rupturing the casing should theconcussion fail to burst it on striking; also in certain detailshereinafter set forth.

The principal object ofthe invention is to produce a projectile adaptedto the bore of a gun, which may be thrown into a fire from a steam orair gun, and which will be less dangerous as a missile than aninflexible projectile when thrown through a window or into a room whichis exposed to fire, in case the room have occupants.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a pro jectile, showing the generalarrangement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an elevation of theflexible cylindrical casing. Fig. 4 is a front view, and Fig. 5 an edgeview, of the head.

A indicates the cylindrical casing of oiled cloth, leather, rubber orrubber cloth, strong paper, or similar material. A good material for thepurpose is a short section of hose similar to that used for water. Inmost cases it is desirable that the casing be water-proof; but as Icontemplate using chemicals in a dry state in some instances, a casingof paper or an ordinary woven fabric may sometimes be employed. Thecylindrical casing will be of such diameter as to easily enter the gun.

B indicates the head of the projectile, preferably of cork or lightwood, varnished on the inside, or of rubber. I have shown this as havinga flat front; but the front may be in any form usual in projectiles, asin dotted lines, Fig. 1. The edge of the head has a groove, 0, intowhich the casing may be crimped. The head is of such diameter as tonicely fit the casing, to which it is cemented,

and may be further secured by a cord, D,

- which draws the casing down into the groove and serves to retain thehead in place, as well as to assist the cement in making a tightjoint.The tail-block E is generally similar to the head, but has aperforation, F, through which the projectile is filled and a stopper, G,closes this month. A spreader, H, preferably of light wood, extends fromthe head to the tailblock,.serving to retain the casing distended. Thisspreader has a tenon, I, which enters a socket, K, in each end piece, orthe projection and socket may be reversed. The head B has a shallowrecess, M, in its outer face, in which a small quantity of fulminate maybe placed and secured by a bit of varnished paper. A light metal orpasteboard cap, 0, having its edge held in groove P in the head,protects this fulminate cap against slight blows; but when theprojectile strikes the cover collapses and thus explodes the fulminate,assisting to burst the casing.

Instead of resting in a groove in the head, the cover may fit over aprojection. (See dotted lines.) Y

The projectile may be guided by fin or feather S, (dotted lines,) or inother manner usual for retaining a projectile point on.

The projectile will be filled with a fireex tinguishing compound, eitherliquid or solid, and thrown into a fire or into a room liable toconflagration, from a gun of suitable construction, such, for instance,as described in my Patent No. 308,945. The release of the liq uid orgases in the projectile by the breakage of the casing on striking, or bythe combustion of the casing should the projectile fail to break, willliberate the contents of the projectile, and tend to check combustion inproportion to the efficiency of the chemicals employed.

I claim- 1. A projectile having its inclosing-casing composed mainly offlexible material and filled with a fire-extinguishing compound,substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a projectile of the character described, of acylindrical casing of flexible material, end pieces secured thereto, anda fire-extinguishing compound inclosed therein, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, in a fire-extinguishing projectile, of a cylindricalcasing of flexible material, end pieces secured thereto, and a stiffspreader extending from end to end inside the casing.

4. The combination, with an elongated projectile filled with afire-extinguishing compound, of a fulminate cap at the front of saidprojectile, and a collapsible cover for said cap, as set forth.

5. The combination,with a fire-extinguisher projectile, of a detonatoror exploding-cap attached to the outside of the casing in which thefire-extinguishing compound is inclosed.

6. The combination, with the flexible in-

